Sidecar's New Owner Aims to Open His 'Dream' Bar

Erik Archambeault (r.), and his partner William Meek are poised to take over the Sidecar on Glenwood Avenue.
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Facebook/Erik Archambeault

ROGERS PARK — The future owner of Colm Treacy's Sidecar said Tuesday he would open his "dream" bar in its place when the sale becomes final.

"It's going to be a complement to everything that's in Rogers Park," said Erik Archambeault, who's lived in the neighborhood the last nine years. "We're not going to compete with any sports bars or venues in the neighborhood."

Archambeault said the sale of the bar and its liquor license was still pending, but that he would soon begin to transform it into an "intimate space" much different than what's there now.

"We thank and appreciate all our loyal friends and families for these past great years!" read the post, which was signed by Treacy.

Treacy amassed a small empire of bars and restaurants in the neighborhood after he emigrated from Ireland about 30 years ago. Gradually, they have all closed, leaving him now with only the Glenwood bar on Glenwood Avenue.

Archambeault said he previously worked in the "corporate world," opening chain restaurants "from the ground up." More recently he worked for AT&T.

But his "dream," along with his partner William Meek, has always been to open a bar, he said.

Archambeault said he couldn't reveal much about his "concept" for the bar until after the sale, but he insisted it would not be "just another gay bar in the neighborhood."

"We’re going to be a real community space," he said, catering to Rogers Park's diverse residents.